Van Thuy Tu Communal House/Van Thuy Tu Temple

Van Thuy Tu temple is located next to the Ca Ty River, a popular tourist destination in Phan Thiet, where visitors can learn about the custom of worshiping Ca Ong (Whale), the unique culture - belief of fishermen in the South Central Coast. This temple is located on Ngu Ong Street, Duc Thang Ward, Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province.

Known as the largest and oldest whale temple in Phan Thiet, Van Thuy Tu Temple displays skeletal remains of whales, fishing boats, and some other authentic artefacts from the Nguyen Dynasty. It was built in 1762 to commemorate Ca Ong (Whale). It is believed by local people that whales are sacred creatures that protect fisherman from bad weather and help them have a successful fishing trip..

According to the beliefs of fishermens, Ca Ong is the god who often shows up to help them whenever they encounter storms and accidents on the sea, so fishermen are very devoted to him regarded as a guardian deity. Therefore, when seeing the dead Ca Ong people often make burial ceremony and worship very respectfully.
According to ancient documents, Van Thuy Tu temple was created in (1762) to worship Ca Ong. At the beginning, the temple was just a wooden house with thatched roofs, then it was gradually embellished with brick walls and tile roofs, with a total area of over 500m2. Although it has gone through more than 250 years of wind and fog, this architecture still preserves quite intact.

Due to the design, decoration and worship of the temple is quite similar to the communal house, so it can also be called a communal house. The main plan in the middle of Van Thuy Tu is worshiping Nam Hai Cu toc Ngoc Lan, ancestor of agriculture and fishery, and Goddess of water. In short, worship gods that related to the sea.
Dinh Van Thuy Tu also has many Han-Nom cultural heritage reflected in the content of worship in wards, statues, statues, couplets, ... This place is also one of the ancient relics with numbers of ordinances from the Nguyen kings. According to old history, in the past, when fighting with the Tay Son Dynasty, the Nguyen generals were repeatedly rescued by whales at sea. Currently in the palace, there are 24 ordinances of kings: Thieu Tri, Tu Duc, Dong Khanh, Duy Tan and Khai Dinh. Particularly, King Thieu Tri bestowed 10 gods, which was rare compared to other monuments.
Within the grounds of Van Thuy Tu Temple, there is a large area called Ngoc Lan Holy Land used to bury Ong whenever he is dead and drifted from the sea. According to custom, fishermen who is the first one to saw Ong was allowed being his "eldest" children and this person was responsible for caring for a funeral, to mourn him for three years. This shows a strange custom of fishermen towards Ong according to their beliefs is almost like the relationship between people.
Particularly, Van Thuy Tu temple has been preserving and worshiping a skeleton of  Ca Ong which is the largest and longest gray back whale in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, with the length and weight when he was alive about 22m, 65 tons, and being  preserved almost without losing any of his bones. The skeleton has been here over 100 years. Tourists visiting the palace were amazed at his grandeur.
Van Thuy Tu is a sacred place, bringing many blessings to the people of Phan Thiet coastal area and sincere visitors. About 25 km from Kega Lighthouse Resort to Phan Thiet, visitors will admire the grandeur of the beauty of Ong and this will certainly be an unforgettable experience.

Reference: Internet